Kuroo's eyes were watching the two figures clash in the open area, arms blocking kicks and legs scuffing the tile beneath them. A red jacket blocked his view momentarily; obscuring the blow Taketora took from Fukunaga's elbow and knocking him back a few steps. The fumble did nothing to slow his movements, the shorter man turning and landing a kick to his stomach with the pivot of his hips.
Fukunaga's body hunched forward and the spar ended with Kuroo's signal. The two broke apart and shook hands, both men out of breath from their fight. Sweat was gathering at Taketora's brows, the combatant running a hand over his face to prevent the droplets from getting into his eyes. Fukunaga was in a similar state of weariness, though he was still recovering from the hit he took in the gut from his opponent's powerful kick.
"Well done." Kuroo's applaud was only his words of praise, his left hand busying itself with the knife that danced over his fingers as he observed their practice match. He was sitting backwards in a nearby chair, playing with a butterfly knife to keep himself busy while he took mental notes of his member's improvements.
With the flick of the wrist, Kuroo caught the knife by the handle and put it in his pocket, standing from the chair and making his way over to a nearby metal door. Without bothering to knock, he slid the door open and announced his presence with a smile. His greeting was drowned out by a scream that was previously muffled by the door, the black-haired man staring down at tattered clothes that hung off of the victim inside the room.
"How's the interrogation coming along?" He addressed the tall man in white, his hand gripping a whip as it paused over his head at the intrusion.
"The Cat keeps sticking to his blood, Kuroo. He's still not talking." His disappointed answer was a direct contrast to his grin, his eyes staring intently at the deep marks that cut lines into his prisoner's back until he couldn't see where they blended together anymore. It was a canvas of red, a few splatters landing as far as Haiba's shirt after a particularly rough whip left the man crying.
"Keep at it, then," Kuroo hummed and stared down at the man on his knees, wondering if he was even capable of talking at this point. His voice must have been hoarse by now, or perhaps Haiba was just lying for the sake of his enjoyment. "Don't go killing him like the last guy, alright?" His teasing earned him a broken sob from the victim, his body shaking from the pain.
"Can I use my scissors?" The question was asked with such earnest, Kuroo thought he was talking to a kid on his birthday. He turned to see the taller man smile, his lips splitting to reach the curve of his cheeks.
"Yeah, I don't see why not."
Kuroo turned around in time to hear the clinking of metal and a faint snip, but he closed the door behind him before he heard the scream of help ripping from the walls. There was nothing he could do now; Haiba was in his own perfect world and he had no right to stop him.
Haiba was the newest member to their gang, but his presence wasn't always welcome among the others. He was fresh and his lack of experience made his acceptance difficult for Taketora and Kenma. An agreement was made to keep Haiba from outside assignments and he was to focus on using what skills he had to gain information.
The Russian-Japanese had no history of a criminal past but his fascination with weapons made him perfect for his job, which allowed him to have his space and let Haiba work at his own pace. It wasn't very often that he got to do what he liked, since attacks were rare on Nekoma. It was his lucky day when they found someone loitering around the warehouse yesterday, giving Haiba the job of beating the information out of the unknown man should he refuse to talk. Now here they were, twelve hours into it and not a single word on who sent the man.
"Kuroo."
Yaku addressed his boss with a neutral tone and expression, his wheat-colored bangs falling just in front of his eyes as he held out a manila folder. He was dressed in beige slacks and a white dress shirt, his outfit professional besides the two buttons unfastened at the collar. "Kenma just faxed us information on our list of loans, so I'd thought you'd might want to take a look before I file it away."
"What about business in Cuba?"
He watched as Yaku flipped the file open and looked under a few pages before turning it around and showing Kuroo. Everything was accounted for, which wasn't very surprising when Kenma was on the job. He took the information off of his friend's hands, tucking it under his arm before turning away and leaving towards the file room.
Just as he kicked the door shut, he heard Shibayama and Inuoka arrive from their last meeting of the week. Inuoka was loud enough to hear through the door, Kuroo noted. He was at least relieved to know that the trip went well, judging from his behavior. Being boss wasn't all that it was cracked up to be, not since Nekomata retired a few years ago after his last run in with the police.
Afterwards, Kuroo took responsibility for the gang after a promise he made with the old man and he became the leader of Nekoma. Even while their organization was, for the most part, peaceful, they were still up to their necks in business deals and cartels that kept the money coming in. They were smart in their line of work, which included staying out of a few nearby gangs and their wars.
Kuroo sighed, settling down into an office chair and placing the open folder on the desk, papers of charts, pictures, and documents were stacked over each other when he searched for the information he told Kenma to specifically bring to him yesterday when he was sent off. He grinned after he found what he wanted, shuffling the papers together and reading Kenma's report with interest.
It seemed like Karasuno had its own problems arising, judging from the picture that was given. Their hideout was a mess: broken pieces of metal and debris were everywhere around the front and a window had been shattered. Kenma never took a photo from the inside, which meant that he probably remained outside and hidden from the gang. It wasn't hard to look into the warehouse anyway, since there was a gaping hole in the front of it. It made him wonder just who decided to pick a fight and if the attack had any connection to their new suspicious friend.
"You sure have your work cut out for you, Sawamura." Kuroo sighed to no one, resting his head in his hand before he set the paper down and closed the folder. "Just what have you gotten yourself into?"
Hinata tapped his pencil on the surface of his desk, waiting for the lecture to end so he could leave. It wasn't as though the information wasn't important or interesting, but he was anxious to get back to the warehouse and help with whatever job they gave him.
His face tensed, his eyes squinting in thought. His mind replayed the scene that had unfolded yesterday and he wondered why Karasuno was targeted by this so-called Aoba Johsai. It was scary how close Hinata was to dying had Kageyama not pushed him in front of himself to avoid the blast. The noise was too deafening, far louder than his own bombs. The moment of vulnerability was losing everyone in the chaos before he spotted Kageyama taking refuge behind the crates.
He killed someone. He remembered his heart racing after taking off and hiding behind the cars, shooting at anything he could before he got himself shot. He killed people before in his bombings, sure, but actually shooting someone and watching them die was different than what he was used to. The thought of murder wasn't nagging in the back of his head, especially when it was kill or be killed. The circumstance called for action and that was justified enough for him.
Hinata was startled out of his musing by the bell and his professor ending his lesson with a reminder for the class reports that were due a week from now. Hinata packed up and skipped the trip to his dorm, deciding to head straight to work with his backpack in tow.
Taking the subway had been far more strenuous than he remembered yesterday and Hinata was having trouble finding a seat to rest at until he finally decided to stand and deal with the ten minute ride and five minute walk to the warehouse in a crowded silence. He wasn't in the best of moods, not since the supposed boss of Karasuno sent him and the rest of the newbies away so everyone else could discuss matters in private. Hinata vaguely wondered what they did with the two other men after they left.
"Hey," Hinata flinched at the hand that was placed on his shoulder, turning around the best he could without bumping into the people around him. He was faced with Kageyama's chest, the bomber looking up slightly to see his face and the bags that ingrained themselves under his eyes.
He relaxed his shoulders after a moment, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Is the guilt getting to you, too?" His gaze flickered over to the woman beside them that was on her phone, not sure how to approach his new ally on the subject. There'd be more sense in him just trying to tear out his throat than make conversation, but he knew better than to cause trouble after what had happened.
"No." Kageyama was staring right at him, his gaze unwavering. He seemed to know exactly what Hinata was referencing and he was kind enough to not go into detail over the subject. Hinata didn't look to be in the mood for insults. "You get used to it after a while." He rubbed his eyes from the sleep that had threatened to take him all morning, his thumbs pressing over his eyelids as he sighed. "I was up all night talking to my landlord about moving. Settling into a dorm is inevitable now, though I don't like the idea very much."
Hinata only grumbled a reply, jerking slightly when the train slowed and stopped at their station. People were unloading from the exit, the two students walking together towards their destination just a few minutes down the dirt path and away from the main road.
The trees along the side of the trail were tall enough to occasionally block out the sun, making the view Hinata had of the warehouse in the distance blur a bit from the glare of light. From what he could tell, the place was trashed, but he could spot a few figures moving around the entrance. At least the others were there before they were.
Their feet scuffled along the dirt and dust, Hinata's foot making contact with a rock as he kicked it for fun. His hands were still buried in his pockets, the bomber chewing on his lip in thought as to what to say to the man next to him. He sighed, deciding his best option was to start polite. "Thanks," Hinata didn't look at Kageyama to see if he was listening or not, "for, y'know, what you did yesterday. Saving me and all. You didn't have to push me out of the way and put yourself in jeopardy."
"I wouldn't have done so if I didn't already know I'd survive." Kageyama's tone was even, ignoring the glare that Hinata sent his way from the answer. "You were too slow to begin with so I had to do something."
"I panicked. That hardly counts for lack of agility."
Kageyama had seen first hand just how fast Hinata had sprinted across the warehouse, shooting a gun no less. Too bad it wasn't accounted for when they saw the trucks roll up while they were unloading. It took Hinata four solid seconds to react before he took off and followed behind him. Late response time could have been all it took for him to drop dead by machine guns like those, or in that case, an RPG.
Kageyama had half a mind to keep the conversation going, if only to keep his mind occupied, but they were nearing the warehouse now and he felt like they'd only cut their talk short before they were sent to work.
His suspicion was correct when they strolled up, finding Tanaka picking up the sheets of metal and tossing them into a pile beside his truck. "Boss wants to see you two in his office." Tanaka wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, Suga coming over to pass him a cloth. "He said it was important so I wouldn't keep him waiting if I were you."
Hinata searched around for Daichi, the dark haired man standing around a few other members and discussing something about a repair bill. He recognized one of the men from yesterday that was hiding behind the crates, walking past him on his way towards his boss's office.
The inside of the warehouse was cleaned up for the most part, the debris and roofing were all cleared out and piled outside, but the gaping hole made the building itself useless for protection from the sun and weather. A couple thousand dollars at least for a roof and wall replacement. The proof of the destruction made his heart race, the bomber licking his lips at the thought of such a devastating power. Sure, it had nearly killed them, but he couldn't help but awe at the conclusion that presented itself just above his head. Maybe if he saved up some money he could buy an RPG of his own someday.
Kageyama opened the door to the office room and held it open for Hinata, the two of them walking inside the confined space and eagerly looking around. On the walls were photos of past and current members of Karasuno, each picture marked with a date at the bottom right corner of the day it was took. Some of them were in black and white, others more modern. The floor was tile and smelled like an expensive cologne Hinata had never smelled before and the unmistakable stench of cigarette smoke.
The desk in front of them was wooden and painted a nice hickory color that was placed in the middle of the room, the chair behind it seating the short man from yesterday with the wild hair. He was dressed in another suit wearing an orange shirt underneath it, his left hand holding a burning cigarette while his other hand was placed on his cheek with his legs crossed. A single gold chain necklace was hung around his neck and gleamed from the light overhead, shining as he shifted in the chair. His expression seemed more relaxed and calm, unlike the angry one he had yesterday.
Hinata's eyes looked over to the woman standing beside him, a beautiful black haired girl with business attire that matched the boss's. Her black suit and pants were pressed and tidy, not a wrinkle to be seen, and her white blouse was decorated with a light pink bow that went with the color of her glasses. She had her hands folded in front of her; her stance straight and poised.
His attention was brought back to the man that cleared his throat, the boss smothering out the light in his cigarette in the ash tray before he clasped his hands together and rested them on the desk. "What the two of you did was very stupid." He was blunt and to the point at least. "You not only put your lives in danger but you put the other members of Karasuno at risk, my friends." He breathed in through his nose and exhaled through his mouth slowly. "I don't know what you two were trying to pull, but I'm not happy."
Neither one decided to speak directly after, Hinata keeping his gaze to the desk and Kageyama remaining fixed on the man's face. A few seconds passed before Kageyama opened his mouth. "Sir-"
"Boss. Call me Boss."
Kageyama hesitated after a moment, thrown off by the interjection. "Er, Boss, we understood the dangers of our decision, but we didn't have much time to think of another way. We did what we deemed best." Kageyama stared at the boss for another second or two, almost challenging his argument. "That's all I have to say."
The short man blinked, looking up at the sniper before he sat back in his chair and placed his elbows on the arm rests. "That's all you have to say?" He mocked, his brown eyes narrowing. "Your explanation is pretty simple, if you ask me. Tell me-" he cut himself off with a brief thought, searching, "-Kageyama, you've dealt with these situations before, haven't you? I'm assuming by your incredible marksmanship, of course."
"Yes."
"Then you would know better-"
"With all due respect, Boss," Hinata spoke up, bravely stepping forth and swallowing his anxiety, "Kageyama was only doing what we had planned. It was my idea, after all." He felt the taller man subtly hit him on the arm, his sight still fixed on the man across from them. It was a warning sign to be quiet.
The attention was on him now, both the woman and the boss were looking at him. It seemed as though his confession had peaked the shorter man's interest somewhat. "Hinata Shouyou. May I call you Shouyou?" He didn't wait for an answer before he continued. "Daichi has spoken a lot about you two, and not just about your performances over the past few months. According to him, you almost had a fight yesterday during your recruitment and it's obvious to me that you don't get along very well. Now, since that information has been presented, what makes you think I'd believe that story when you two were fighting in this very same warehouse less than twenty-four hours ago?"
They didn't have an answer for that one, only fleeting thoughts of the attack and a mindless argument to go with it. It didn't seem plausible, but they were able to overcome their differences for a few moments and work together to save themselves from danger. Hinata blamed it on the adrenaline, and Kageyama on his will to survive.
"Nishinoya." A feminine voice rang out in the room, startling the two younger members and causing them to look up at the woman in the corner, her hand placed on the man's shoulder, "These two have shown that they can work in an environment with each other and have proven themselves able to handle a situation as dire as the one yesterday. While they did risk lives, they also saved them. I find them quite capable of themselves and more, which is why I find your lecture a bit pointless."
Hinata stiffened, flicking his eyes between the two across the desk. How could she stand up to her boss like that? She had even called him by his name like it was nothing, and he didn't seem very offended at all. In fact... Hinata took a closer inspection to find that his boss was a bit flustered with his cheeks blooming a shade of pink, probably from embarrassment. Perhaps the woman had some sort of influence on him?
Nishinoya cleared his throat, shying away from the woman's touch just a bit. He seemed to be thinking about something before he opened his mouth to speak. "I'm letting you off the hook for now, but just know that I don't want to see this kind of sloppy behavior again. I want you to help with whatever your superiors assign you to do, and I want it done well. Understood?"
Hinata and Kageyama agreed simultaneously, the men shuffling out of the office to find either one of their three higher-ups. It took some time because of the other members and their crowded work, but Kageyama was the first to spot Suga from the outside as he sorted out smaller pieces of metal to pass to Daichi. His ankle was wrapped with a compression wrap, the white peeking out from his pant leg and his limp was obvious.
"Suga," Hinata appeared behind Kageyama, the two of them wanting to help at as much as they could, "Is there anything you want us to do?"
He paused lifting the sheet, his brown eyes softening. "Did Nishinoya let you off easy?" He smiled at their nods. "Well, if you boys don't mind helping me lift these heavy pieces out to the truck, that would be wonderful. It's hard to carry these when you're short of one mobile foot."
They all worked in silence, the three passing the sheets to Daichi and Tanaka while a few others transferred to working indoors and sweeping the place up. Tsukishima and Yamaguchi were loading and unloading weapons from the crates that were broken from the gun fight, moving them into other boxes and organizing the space.
Hinata kept his focus on his labor at hand, but he still had a bunch of questions he wanted answers to since yesterday. "Hey, Kageyama?" The two were taking a large sheet by themselves at the moment, Suga being ordered to rest his leg by one of the others.
"What?" Kageyama gave him a side glance before tossing the metal into the trunk, both walking back to grab another chunk.
"Do you know what they did to those guys that attacked us? I mean, I haven't heard a word about them since Boss exploded about it." He wiped his hands on his pants and waited for the taller male to grab his end of the load before they lifted together.
The raven-haired hesitated at the question, unsure whether to tell him the truth or not. He wasn't sure himself, but if Karasuno was doing business like all the other branches of the mafia, they probably took out the garbage in a very violent manner. "I'm sure they either killed them or let them go already. The latter isn't a very high chance, though. When you do something like that and you get caught, your enemies will be out looking for blood, that's for certain."
Hinata gave a noise of acknowledgement, his eyes and mind still mostly trained on his job. "I figured as much. With everything that's happened, you would think our boss would have some sort of plan or revenge, or something, right? He just seemed so calm earlier, it really makes me wonder."
"Don't worry," Kageyama shifted the load in his hands before they dumped it into the same spot at the last sheet, "I'm sure he's got something planned. Something big."
